BishopAccountability.org
	Belant's Motions Denied By Sean Garmire The Times-Standard April 28, 2009 http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_12243852 Judges at the Humboldt County Superior Court on Monday denied a series of motions, filed by Andrew Belant, which included a motion to dismiss his attorney and another to disqualify a judge. On Monday morning, Judge Timothy Cissna denied a motion from Belant's attorney, Andrew Truitt, to delay the trial scheduled for jury selection this week. The same motion was denied in a separate courtroom Friday, and Cissna upheld the previous judge's ruling. Belant then filed a motion that questioned the competency of his attorney in an effort to dismiss Truitt. That motion too was denied. A third motion to disqualify Judge Bruce Watson, whose court Belant's case has been assigned to, was filed, and subsequently quashed. The case was eventually turned over to the court of Judge Joyce Hinrichs, who said she expects attorneys will begin assembling a jury panel Wednesday. Belant stands accused of more than 20 charges related to child pornography and the sexual abuse of four young boys between the ages of 9 and 13 between January 2007 and March 2008. According to authorities who investigated Belant, the 25-year-old met the boys while working as an after-school aide, part-time church youth leader and summer camp counselor. At the time of his arrest, Belant was enrolled in the Humboldt State University teacher credential program. Belant will return to court this morning for arguments over evidence that may be admitted during his trial. Among those pieces of evidence are at least 10 pornographic photographs of children, allegedly found on Belant's hard drive. According to court documents, one of the four alleged victims is depicted in at least one of the photographs. Attorneys will also argue over whether evidence that Belant was fired from a Minnesota summer camp for boys in 2004 for inappropriate behavior is admissible. According to court documents, Belant is alleged to have been fired from the camp for taking naked photographs of the campers as well as displaying inappropriate affection for the children. Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.